Product Description

Bestselling author Jean Strauss's memoir about her quest to unearth her past is an incredibly funny and touching journey that redefines the meaning of family and celebrates the universal connections that link us all.

Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #935287 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Annette Baran, author of "The Adoption Triangle"
Not only is this an incredibly moving human story, it's as exciting as any detective story...

Jameson Parker, actor and author
This is a very funny, very moving, very insightful book...

Peggy Jackson
I meant to read just a few pages but could not put this down. It touched me to the core...

Customer Reviews

Must read for anyone in the triad
I discovered this book quite by accident. I had already read Birthright by Jean Strauss. I was doing a search on Amazon for a review of that book for a friend when this title came up. When I finally got a copy, I couldn't put it down. Simply, it is an incredibly well written book on searching for one's roots. In the end, its both one's adoptive and biological ties that matter. I particularly appreciated the author's final family tree which included both her birth family and adoptive family. The insight I received from this book will be invaluable to my wife and I as we raise our 7 yo son and 2 yo daughter who were both adopted as infants. Many thanks to Jean Strauss.

Five oars for Jean Strauss
If "beneath a tall tree" doesn't tug at your heart and bring tears to your eyes, go see your doctor for a checkup. Strauss bares her soul in this fascinating adventure about her life. Besides being enormously helpful to adoptees, it provides a deep, raw look into the mindset of an adoptee. Her fluid style makes this an easy read.

Great for adoptees looking to find out more
I am an adoptee and I'm currently in a stage of my life where I'm becoming more curious to find out about my birthmother and my background. I was kind of scared and didn't really know where to start, but this book really helped me to realize that I CAN do something about it and that it's really nothing to be scared of. It gave me the perspective of the birthmother as well, wanting to know about the daughter she gave up. I have a feeling that when the time comes to contact my birthmother, she'll be more receptive than not - something I was very unsure of before I read this book. Jean Strauss and her book have kind of helped me to get the ball rolling and start seriously thinking about contacting my birthmother.